pop-mark not working as expected

Question

I have some sample code like this:

(defun some-function ()
  (interactive)
  (push-mark)
  (goto-char (point-min))
  ; do some stuff
  (pop-mark))

Now I'm expecting pop-mark to get me back to the original location. But that doesn't seem to be happening. Any idea on how to do this properly ?

I would recommend storing your location points in let-bound variables and then going back there again: (let* ((point-one (point)) point-two) (goto-char (point-min)) [do stuff . . .] (goto-char point-one)) You can create a place holder for the variable -- e.g., point-two and then when you get there, set it with (setq point-two (point)) — lawlist, May 5, 2015 at 2:24

assem · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-05 02:29:20Z

6

From pop-mark's documentation: ...This does not move point in the buffer

I think you want:

;; do some stuff
(goto-char (mark))
(pop-mark)

But if all you care about is returning to a previous location, and not actually using the mark ring, then you could either

1) save (point) in a variable and return to it

2) use save-excursion which does this for you

answered May 5, 2015 at 2:29

assem

1765 bronze badges

8

save-excursion really is the best way to do this. You don't have to worry about saving the initial position of point, just let save-excursion do the work for you.
– zck
May 5, 2015 at 3:57

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